Dr Castle, who served as a rural General Practitioner for 57 years and delivered an estimated 4,000 babies, was the recipient on Friday night of a Victorian Rural Health Award from RWAV, Victorian's not-for-profit Rural Workforce Agency.

The award was presented to Dr Castle by Victorian Health Minister, the Hon David Davis, during a ceremony at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne.

Dr Castle, 83, arrived in Stawell as a solo GP in 1956 and two years later established the Stawell Medical Centre. He also started the local Blood Bank and has been Medical Director of Stawell Hospital since 1994, serving on the hospital's board of management for 28 years.

He mentored many medical students and registrars, one of whom came top of her year and is currently a professor at the Royal Women's Hospital.

Up until a few years ago he flew his own plane and ran a stud cattle farm with his son. Dr Castle retired from rural practice last year and is a life member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and a founding Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.

RWAV Chairman Dr Philip Webster said Dr Castle personified the significant role played by rural doctors in Victorian country towns.

"Norm has devoted his life to the people of Stawell and has enjoyed every minute of it," Dr Webster said. "He really misses being a doctor, but not as much as his patients miss him."

Minister for Health, David Davis, congratulated Dr Castle on his Victorian Rural Health Award, describing him and the other award winners as true health heroes.

"Victoria is fortunate to have the services of so many wonderful health professionals and these awards are a great way of celebrating the fantastic contribution they make to the community."